Afrika Yetu Inc.
presents LOKUA KANZA, one of the most accomplished Congolese recording artists
on the scene to the city of Cincinnati. On a rare US tour with his band this
summer, Lokua Kanza will be making his Cincinnati debut on Thursday May 28,
2009, 8PM at the 20th Century Theater.
He is a prolific singer,
songwriter, and composer known for his soulful folksy sound, unusual in the land
of Soukous. Lokua's music incorporates many natural sounds from the Congo
rainforest including the symphonic chants of the Twa as well as his own pop
melancholic acoustic style of Soukous Music. He has worked and performed with
the top names in the business such as Siedah Garrett, Lamont Dozier, Papa Wemba,
Manu Dibango, Youssou N'Dour, and Angélique Kidjo to name a few. He also made a
special appearance on Saturday Night Live with Natalie Merchant.
Featuring WACONGO Dance Company, a traditional performing dance group
from the Democratic Republic of Congo, this concert aims to promote awareness
and raise funds for the hundreds of thousand women and girls in conflict zones
who are kidnapped, tortured, brutally raped and sexually enslaved daily in the
Democratic Republic of Congo's intractable civil war. Kambale Musavuli,
spokesperson of Friends of the Congo will provide historical and current
overview of the situation in the Congo. He will also share with the audience how
the average person can get involved in the global movement in support of the
people of the Congo.
Afrika Yetu is an organization committed to
introducing popular indigenous African artists to the Pittsburgh Community.
Afrika Yetu's objective is to develop and showcase the contemporary and
traditional aspects of African music and Art. Additionally, Afrika Yetu, as an
organization in the performing arts, promotes African Music and Arts in the City
of Pittsburgh and across the nation, as a way to not only unite the various
ethnicities, but also to educate people about the African continent's history
and richness, to build bridges of mutual understanding.
Tickets for the
LOKUA KANZA in concert with WACONGO concert are $50 VIP (which includes dinner
and meet-and-greet with Lokua Kanza), $30 General Admission and $15 for
students, and are available at Afrika Yetu by calling 412.281.3100 or online at
www.afrikayetu.org. Tickets are also available at 20th Century Theater by
calling 513.731.8000.
For more information, please visit www.afrikayetu.org or call the Afrika Yetu office
at 412.281.3100
Additional information on LOKUA KANZA and/or Afrika Yetu is
available upon request and on the Afrika Yetu's website at www.afrikayetu.org or at www.Lokua-kanza.com and www.myspace.com/kanzalokua.
Visit congoweek.org or friendsofthecongo.org for more information about
the Break the Silence Tour!
